Chalmers said the latest Australian population data showed an ageing population continues to present a demographic challenge for Australia and the budget, with the government having to keep one eye on current challenges, while the other focuses on longer term needs in health, pensions and support services.
Work is under way for the May budget, which will be the first to tackle the $254bn Morrison government stage-three tax cuts. Labor voted in support of tax cuts while in opposition and went to the election promising no changes to stage three, which were already legislated and due to come into effect mid-next year.
Chalmers said Labor’s position on the cuts hasn’t changed, which the acting Greens leader, Larissa Waters, said was absurd.
Read more at The Guardian
